Chapter 26

* * *

Zha Jing, the steward of the Zha family, had always thought that the annual event of distributing steamed buns on Dan Mulin's birthday was a futile waste of money, devoid of any real meaning. After all, just because free buns were given to the poor, it didn't mean that the Supreme Elder or the Buddha would heal her daughter in return. If that were the case, no rich person's child would ever fall ill. Moreover, if her daughter truly recovered and the annual bun distribution stopped, it would only invite curses rather than any good deeds.

However, as the Dan family had long held power in Zhejiang, he believed that the act of giving to those in need was not inherently bad, even if it wasn't done now.

So, when the person in question suggested continuing the bun distribution using the budget for her birthday party, he was somewhat surprised. He thought that at her age, she would enjoy lavish celebrations and crave attention.

‘Even though the story about being taken by immortals and returned is unlikely to be true...’

“Still, it would have been nice if there had been a small party within the family...”

Chao Yi, who had helped distribute buns all day and now smelled strongly of dough and meat, spoke with a somewhat dejected expression. Xue Guanxi clicked his tongue.

“I didn’t expect the young miss to let her first birthday pass so quietly.”

“But we need money to have a party.”

“Still, it’s not like we have none at all.”

Indeed, Xue Guanxi found it surprising that no party was held despite having some funds, but he didn’t show it.

“Why didn’t the Supreme Patriarch hold a party for the young miss, even though he cherishes her so much?”

Xue Guanxi nodded, recalling the recent scenes at Yueying Pavilion. As far as he remembered, even when raising Dan Muxing, Dan Tianqi wasn’t as attached as he is now.

“If the young miss doesn’t want a party, what can be done?”

“That’s right! Why does the young miss say she doesn’t want one?”

This was essentially her first real birthday, as the previous one had been overshadowed by her convalescence, and Chao Yi continued to grumble, feeling wronged.

“Without a party, the Jinjia people will look down on us.”

“Those who judge us for that are fools.”

Xue Guanxi’s cold words dampened Chao Yi’s spirits, but he secretly acknowledged that there was some truth to what he said. People are often foolish, judging by appearances rather than substance.

With the family’s fortunes declining since Dan Xiancheng’s death, and even with her daughter’s recovery, not holding a grand party to gather people could indeed invite criticism.

“Still, were the buns distributed without any issues?”

“Yes. Everyone was happy that the young miss is well, and she seemed happy too.”

Xue Guanxi, reflecting on the amount saved by distributing buns instead of holding a party, smiled contentedly.

* * *

Dan Tianqi seemed to have been affected by Lian’s seizure during their first lesson. The detailed training for the Twelve Falling Stars Sword ended on the day of her first seizure, and since then, the focus has been on basic physical conditioning and flexibility exercises.

In the evenings, they would have dinner together and discuss one move at a time.

“Didn’t you see the meteor? It comes from far away and in the blink of an eye, it’s right in front of you and then disappears, little duckling.”

“But meteors aren’t like that...”

Lian started to say something but bit her lip. At the same time, a powdery glow appeared in her eyes, indicating the activation of the Heart Eye and Harmony.

Lian adjusted her chopsticks and drew a line, gradually modifying the final move of the Twelve Falling Stars Sword.

The effect of the Heart Eye 5-star was significant. When she saw a flaw, she could also see how to turn it into a strength.

“That’s not so light, is it? So the Twelve Falling Stars Sword should be a bit more...”

At first, a light gleam appeared in Dan Tianqi’s eyes, but it soon turned to astonishment as he watched Lian move her chopsticks.

“...Heavier?”

“Yes. And you said the Twelve Falling Stars Sword doesn’t mimic the movement of a meteor but creates one, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So, it should feel more powerful, like... like when a meteor falls and turns into meteoric iron. The feeling you get when you think of meteoric iron?”

“Have you seen meteoric iron?”

Lian nodded.

“Grandfather’s sword.”

“Oh, right...”

Dan Tianqi cleared his throat.

“So, you’re saying it can be a bit slower?”

He wasn’t unaware of this. But this young granddaughter had already grasped what he was only beginning to think about.

“It’s not slow, but... meteors are fast, but they feel heavy. Like how a feather, even if a thousand are bundled together, will still fall after a smaller, heavier stone. So, it’s... like this... like this feeling...”

Lian’s chopstick moved in a strange curve, slowly. With the Heart Eye and Harmony activated, she recreated the final move she had seen Dan Tianqi perform, but with a slightly slower and heavier force and subtlety.

“Yes, this feeling... Ah.”

As Lian stood up, pleased with the movement she had created, her eyes widened.

[The Luck Stat has been unlocked!]

Current Luck Value: 10/120

Good deeds are rewarded.

A light scattered gently, and words appeared before her eyes. She blinked in surprise, but Dan Tianqi, sitting opposite, had already closed his eyes.

A slow, gentle whirlwind of qi gathered and drew towards him, spreading a strange and tense atmosphere throughout the room.

The words in the air soon disappeared. Lian, who had been sitting in shock, finally regained her composure.

She stepped out carefully, closed the door quietly, and gestured for the approaching servants to stay outside. Seeing her from a distance, the chief steward, Jiang Li, looked puzzled, so she called him over.

“Um, since Grandfather has had an enlightenment... it would be best to keep things quiet tonight.”

“Huh?”

The steward, not understanding, bent his knees to listen more closely.

“Young miss, just now...”

“Grandfather has had an enlightenment. It felt like a sudden realization.”

The steward, still confused, suddenly jumped, startling Lian.

After apologizing repeatedly, the steward silently relayed orders to the servants.

Lian, holding the chopstick she had used as a sword, watched the quiet Yueying Pavilion fall asleep.

* * *

While the few remaining warriors of the family were busy providing security, Lian quietly returned to her bedroom and looked down at the blank white paper before her.

To others, it was just a blank sheet, but to Lian, neat characters appeared. They were the exact words she had seen when Dan Tianqi had his enlightenment.

* The Luck Stat has been unlocked! *

Current Luck Value: 10/120

Good deeds are rewarded.

Lian focused on the last line.

‘Does doing good deeds increase the luck value?’

But she had done quite a few good deeds already, so why hadn’t it reflected until now?

Lian pondered and realized that it wasn’t just about doing good deeds; it was about using her own spirit energy to help her grandfather. She had used Purification frequently and even activated Harmony and Heart Eye to help him achieve enlightenment, which was no small feat.

‘To give enlightenment to a former top swordsman, you get 10...’

‘10’ seemed like a very small number, and even with the Luck Stat unlocked, she didn’t feel any significant change.

‘But!’

Still, Lian clenched her fist, not discouraged.

This kind of attribute can’t be built up overnight, and it’s unrealistic to expect immediate results.

‘This is something you keep hidden and forget about, and it usually pays off in the middle to late stages of life.’

There will be times when luck is truly needed. The age of independence (30), the age of clarity (40), the age of understanding the will of heaven (50)...

Trying to achieve it all at once would be overwhelming, but surely there will be a day when the sun shines on her.

Lian thought about her 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. She had never lived to see her 30s.

This time, it will be different.

Deciding to live a longer and more fulfilling life, she had more to prepare for.

‘Hmm? But there’s a limit set. 120...? What happens when it’s completely filled?’

When the luck is full... what happens?

Lian tilted her head, but the answer didn’t appear on the blank sheet.